TERPSICHORE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Terpsichore mean? 

• TERPSICHORE (noun)
  The noun TERPSICHORE has 2 senses:

1. (Greek mythology) the Muse of the dance and of choral song

2. taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music

  Familiarity information: TERPSICHORE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TERPSICHORE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(Greek mythology) the Muse of the dance and of choral song

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Instance hypernyms:

Muse (in ancient Greek mythology any of 9 daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne; protector of an art or science)

Domain category:

Greek mythology (the mythology of the ancient Greeks)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

dance; dancing; saltation; terpsichore

Hypernyms ("terpsichore" is a kind of...):

diversion; recreation (an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates)

performing arts (arts or skills that require public performance)

Domain member category:

sidestep (a step to one side (as in boxing or dancing))

tap (a small metal plate that attaches to the toe or heel of a shoe (as in tap dancing))

busker (a person who entertains people for money in public places (as by singing or dancing), usually while asking for money)

jive (dance to jive music; dance the jive)

dance; trip the light fantastic; trip the light fantastic toe (move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance)

clog (dance a clog dance)

tap dance (perform a tap dance)

belly dance (perform a belly dance)

heel (perform with the heels)

shimmy (dance a shimmy)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "terpsichore"):

hoofing; step dancing (dancing in which the steps are more important than gestures or postures)

ceremonial dance; ritual dance; ritual dancing (a dance that is part of a religious ritual)

mambo (a Latin American dance similar in rhythm to the rumba)

social dancing (dancing as part of a social occasion)

pas de quatre ((ballet) a dance for four people)

pas de trois ((ballet) a dance for three people)

duet; pas de deux ((ballet) a dance for two people (usually a ballerina and a danseur noble))

pas seul; variation ((ballet) a solo dance or dance figure)

choreography; stage dancing (a show involving artistic dancing)

toe dance; toe dancing (a dance performed on tiptoe)

adagio (a slow section of a pas de deux requiring great skill and strength by the dancers)

slam dance; slam dancing (a form of dancing in which dancers slam into one another; normally performed to punk rock)

skank (a rhythmic dance to reggae music performed by bending forward and extending the hands while bending the knees)

saraband (a stately court dance of the 17th and 18th centuries; in slow time)

phrase (dance movements that are linked in a single choreographic sequence)

pavan; pavane (a stately court dance of the 16th and 17th centuries)

nauch; nautch; nautch dance (an intricate traditional dance in India performed by professional dancing girls)

courante (a court dance of the 16th century; consisted of short advances and retreats)

break dance; break dancing (a form of solo dancing that involves rapid acrobatic moves in which different parts of the body touch the ground; normally performed to the rhythm of rap music)

Derivation:

terpsichorean (of or relating to dancing)